Sunday, April 28, 2013

The Importance of Prayers, Spells, & Rituals


The Importance of Prayers, Spells, & Rituals
By
Katherine Cotoia~The Organic Brew

In this post I use the terms God/Goddess/Deity interchangeably as I understand all my readers have different beliefs.

Why do we perform spells? Rituals? Say daily devotions?
The Gods see and hear all so why do we need to pray to them? They already know what is going on in our lives. Right?
Yes, the Gods do know what is going on however I believe most times they wait to see how we are going to handle the situation before they intervene, if they intervene at all. Some lessons we are here to learn and no deity is going to remove those lessons from us. These lessons are a part of our path to enlightenment, why would they remove a lesson that will only make us stronger? They may lesson the load at times when it gets to heavy and that is the difference a prayer will make. By lighting a candle and meditating, praying to your Goddess and letting her know that the load is just too heavy right now; she can lesson it for you. However would she have done it if you hadn’t taken the time to pray to her? Perhaps, perhaps not. I personally like to keep the connection with deity strong, I thank her for all that I have on a regular basis, I talk to her (in my head mostly but out loud to, lol) and when something wonderful happens, I thank her.  You can’t just call out to your God when times are tough, it really is quite rude.

How do prayers and spells make a difference or change anything? Because when you pray/spell/ritual, you are calling out to a God, you are bringing a problem or issue to their attention. There are many people who pray to certain Gods, millions who pray to Jesus everyday, millions who call to Hecate, Arianrhod, Cerridwen each and everyday. That is a lot of people for the Gods to lend aid to, listen to, and watch over. That is a lot of children to care for, it must be exhausting!
When you pray or perform a spell you are taking the time to call to your God, “Hey, down here, I have a problem, please help me”
 By taking the time to prepare for your ritual or spell, by lighting your candles, writing your words, reciting your chants or prayers, you are building a connection to that deity. The path of energy is being built from you to them. The more you do this the better connection you will have.
Is it enough to just shoot out a spell or prayer a few times a year and expect that deity to listen and respond?
Personally, I think not. It would be like the cousin whom you haven’t heard from in years calling and asking you to lend them their rent money. Why should that be ok? You may do it anyway and there are times that a God will answer a call to someone who doesn’t take the time to pray, however I do think that they expect a little more then the once a year candle being lit. Of course this is just my humble opinion.
By building a relationship with your Goddess/God, you are strengthening the bond between you.  That energy will flow between the two of you much easier and will get stronger over time.
By reading their stories, meditating on their lives, and picturing yourself living the life your God lived you can develop a different level of understanding about your God. Putting yourself in their positions and thinking about how you would have handled the life your God lived, well that is a wonderful way to truly appreciate your deity.
7 day candles are sold at almost every dollar store and supermarket. They are sold in a variety of colors. Choose one for your God and take the time to decorate that candle. Write a prayer or invocation that you can say when you light your candle and add it to the candle. I would choose a thicker paper for this. Decorate with items that your deity is associated with, if you pray to Arianrhod decorate the front with images or a drawing of the Aurora Borealis and the full moon. I like to write my own invocations however if you are not someone who enjoys this then there are many that can be found online.
Place this candle in a place of honor in your home and light it often. I also like to add items that are associated with that deity. For example, on Valentines Day I dedicate my altar to Aphrodite. My altar is draped with a red cloth, sea shells, rose quartz crystals and an image of Aphrodite are placed with my other magickal items. 

Get creative and let your deity know that you actually respect and care about them.
Of course, if you are not the “artsy craftsy” type, no worries. Contact me through Facebook or TheOrganicBrew.com and I would be happy to create a custom one of a kind deity candle for you.
So perhaps the time has come to really think about how you worship and make some changes in thought where your deity is concerned.
Bright Blessings,
Katherine
TheOrganicBrew.com
Facebook.com/OrganicBrew
OrganicBrew.blogspot.com

~Please note that no portion of this writing or images can be used without my written consent. Feel free to share with your own friends and readers however please do not change my writings or make them your own.
Many thanks and magickal blessings,
Katherine
  )0(

Friday, January 25, 2013

Goddess Selene Awakening your Psychic Powers Spell


Goddess Selene Psychic Spell

Call on the Goddess Selene to aid with psychic enhancement. Personally I feel Mondays are a good day to perform psychic magick due to the fact that Monday is dedicated to the moon and the moon is what controls the tides of emotion and intuition lying inside each of us.
Selene is a Greek Goddess of the Moon which makes her perfect for this type of magick! Selene, also called Mene, or Latin Luna, was the goddess of the moon or the moon personified into a divine being. I have read that Selene is fond of Witches and those who favor the magickal arts, so my Witches, call on Selene to aid with tuning into your psychic abilities.
To perform this type of magick I recommend a silver candle to represent the Moon Goddess and a purple candle to represent your inner power and abilities. An incense blend for psychic enhancement is perfect, if you do not have one an incense of frankincense and myrrh would work wonderfully. I find that Nag Champa always puts me in a magickal state of mind however that could be because I love the scent so much!
Cast your circle, light your candles and incense and sit and meditate on what it would be like to have the psychic abilities that you seek. Picture your life as it will be. Once you have the image planted firmly in your mind call out to Selene: 
"Under the power of your beautiful moon,
I call to the Goddess Selene to grant me a boon
Psychic enhancement is what I seek
Great Goddess awaken these attributes in me
My thanks and love are with you always
So mote it be
Beautiful Goddess Selene"
Allow your candles to burn out (not unattended of course) if possible. If not relight them every night until they are finished. I recommend taking this a step further and dedicating a 7 day candle to Selene. Light it every evening or as often as you can and when you are lighting the candle use the above chant to call to her. This will help build a connection with this Goddess.
Wishing you luck on your path to spiritual enlightenment!
Kat

No parts of any of my blog posts or writings can be used without prior permission from me, the author.
Thank you for respecting this request.
Bright Blessings,
Kat
TheOrganicBrew.com

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Tutorial Recipe for Travel Protection Mojo


Travel Protection Mojo
Create this Travel Protection Mojo for your car to ward off car troubles which is especially helpful during the winter months. Choose a fabric to match your car or one in protective colors and cut a matching this strip of fabric to use as the ribbon to tie the bag shut.
For this spell I choose protective herbs that are easy to come across in your local market or in your garden. Use what herbs you have, if you are missing some no worries.
Lay out your fabric square and place in the middle:
Peppermint, 1 bay leaf, clover, coriander, clove, basil, peppercorn seeds, and a stone of protection like onyx or obsidian.
“In the name of the Lord and Lady
I create the charm bag to keep my
Vehicle and all who ride in it
Safe and free from harm and negativity
As I will
So mote it be”
Tie your bag shut and add ribbon, feathers, beads to decorate. Hang from your rear view mirror, tuck under your drivers seat, or place in your glove box. Charge in the light of the full moon every few months to keep the energy clean and strong.
Bright Blessings,
The Organic Brew.com

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

DIY Sheet Music Garland Tutorial Easy Kid Friendly Craft

My Witchlet and I were busy creating Valentine Decorations for our home during the Patriots game. While I was very upset with the playoffs as my Pats did not take home the trophy, at least I have these fantastic decorations to show for it! We had a lot of fun using these vintage sheet music books. If you do not have any sheet music you could download some free ones online, however I think using book pages would be equally clever. Here is an easy diy tutorial on these 3-d hearts. I hope you enjoy and Happy Crafting!













Thursday, January 10, 2013

Finding Your Past Life



Reincarnation is the process used by Spirit to progress the soul through evolutionary cycles. With each lifetime, the soul repays karmic debt, receives rewards for karmic credit and sets-up situations that cause the soul to face spiritual lessons. These lessons help to progress the enlightenment of the soul. If we learn our lessons, we move forward, if we repeat old patterns and chose not to learn, we can remain stagnant and end up having to repeat the lesson again.
2013 will be a year of great spiritual awakening for those who seek it.
By learning and exploring your past lives, you will grow spiritually. Past life knowledge can enhance your creativity by increasing your self discovery, any talents long forgotten can come back to you, strengths you never knew you had can be realized, and abilities not developed in this life can be brought to light and explored.
The value of getting in touch with past lives is not only about learning who we once were, but in rounding out or balancing out our personalities. We will come to realize that we have lived many lives before and we will eventually return to experience many more, this realization frees us from any fear of death we may be harboring.
I don’t recommend past life work to be done on a whim. It should be treated with respect. Prepare yourself like you would for a ritual, take the time to meditate and put yourself into the right frame of mind before you start the actual past life work. Write out your work days before. Make sure you have all your tools ready, candles, music, incense, oils, etc. Make sure you will not be disturbed during this time.
I also think it is important to not go into past life work with any preconceived notions of what you think your past lives were like. Try to let the images come to you without influencing them. Only then will you be able to accept what you see fully and know that you are seeing what needs to be seen, not what you wish to see.
Below I have included some chants, spells, recipes, and meditation tips to get you started on your journey to past life exploration. I wish you a journey filled with enlightenment.
Bright Blessings,
Katherine

Past Life Incense
Used to remember past lives
Cinnamon: ½ part
Myrrh ½ part
Myrrh essential oil: 2-3 drops
Cinnamon essential oil: 1 drop

Saturn Incense:
Used to study past lives
Sandalwood: 2 parts
Myrrh: 2 parts
Dittany of Crete: 1 part
Cypress essential oil: 2 drops
Patchouli essential oil: 3 drops


Past life Chant
'Remove the chains of time and space and make my spirit soar.
Let these mortal arms embrace the life that (haunts or has happened) before.'

Spell To Remember a Past Life

Items Needed:
1 white Candle, 1 mirror, yourself
Set the candle next to the mirror so the light from it can hit your face but not see the candle in the mirror.
Turn off the lights and sit in front of the mirror.
Once comfortably seated, look into your eyes and say these words:
"Oracle of lunar light, Send me the second sight"
Stare into your eyes and allow them to relax naturally. Do not however allow your eyes to close. Your reflection will dissolve and another will appear. Try to look at the face, body, clothing and surroundings. After you do this, you will have emotions that you can not explain. Don't worry; they will go away in a few minutes.
You may have to say these words a few times and stare into your reflection for a while. Remember to concentrate.
I also came across a nice site which gives information on using crystals with your past life workings. Crystals release a frequency that is effective for past life meditations.
On her website, Judy Hall gives detailed information on which crystals to use for the particular past life work you are attempting. Her site can be found here:
http://www.crystalhelp.com/Crystals-For-Past-Life-Healing

Past Life Meditation
1.        Sit in a comfortable position, one that you can sustain for about 30-45 minutes.
2.     Close your eyes and take in a deep cleansing breath. Fill your lungs to their fullest capacity. Then release the breath through your mouth and push all the air out of your body. Take in 3 deep breaths through the nose, imagine the white light from the universe coming into your lungs and collecting at your solar plexus.
3.    With all 3 exhales, imagine all the stress, anxiety and negativity you have leaving your body and carried out to the universe on a gray smoke where it can be dissipated and no longer do harm to anyone. As you exhale, imagine the events of the day or week floating out of your body. Put these worries aside and begin to relax your entire body and mind. Feel the tension in your muscles begin to subside. Begin at your solar plexus and imagine the white light moving up and down your body from this point. Imagine the warmth of the energy as it passes through your muscles and organs. Feel the tingling sensations as the light moves down to your toes and up your body to the top of your head. Imagine your entire body engulfed by this white divine light, from the inside out.
4.      Say a prayer once more asking your guides and teachers to come to you and to help with the purpose of this mediation. State your intention clearly and ask the Great Spirits (your God/Goddess) to help you with your meditative journey. Don't forget to thank them up front for their efforts.
5.     This step takes a little practice, don't worry if you can't do this for any extended period of time, but at least give it a try. Keep your eyes closed, but look up at the pituitary gland. This is a small gland located in the middle of your forehead, just above the brow. (This is also considered to be the position of your third eye and is therefore the gateway to higher conscious realms). Try to keep your eyes focused on this point. The muscles around your eyes may become sore as you stretch them upward, so don't over do this at first. As you practice, this step will become easier and easier to do.
6.     As you focus on your third eye imagine you’re at the base of a tunnel, dimly lit and slanting upward. Imagine your astral body (or your soul) standing up from your physical body and begin to walk toward and into the tunnel. See the lights on the walls and the texture of the floor as you walk through the tunnel. Imagine yourself moving upward.
7.       Just a head of you, about 100 yards, you see a set of glass doors and through those doors you can see a brilliant white light. You feel in your heart that this is the light of the universal consciousness, of the Divine. A feeling of Peace, calm, protection and knowledge fills your insides. With each step closer, you feel more relaxed and at peace, you feel uplifted and connected to this universal energy.
8.      As you approach the doors, they automatically open and invite your soul into this realm of enlightenment. Beyond the doors your spiritual sanctuary awaits.
9.     Go inside; sit in the center of your sanctuary. State your purpose for this visit to your spiritual sanctuary. It will be important for you to ask your Spirit Guide to come and help you during this session. Tell them what you need and how you would like them to help you.
10.  When you're ready imagine yourself (your higher self) conducting a spiritual meditation. Feel yourself becoming more relaxed, going deeper into you spiritual realm. Imagine seeing and feeling your higher self, taking in the cleansing breaths and this time, imagine your spiritual body rising out of your higher self body.
11.     Your spiritual body floats through your sanctuary to a bookcase you hadn't noticed before. Each book on the case is a volume of a past life. There could be hundreds or thousands or more. How many are there, isn't important. See and feel your spiritual body moving to the book case and taking one volume off the shelf. As you carry the book back to the center of the room, see your spirit merge back into the image of your higher self. Once you have rejoined these two energy bodies, imagine your higher self opening your eyes. (Don’t open your eyes in reality; you are seeing your higher self in your sanctuary. This type of visualization helps to keep you in a deep meditation which is needed to access your personal akashic records).
12.  As your higher self looks at the book take note of its cover. What it's made of, are there any decorations, or lettering on the cover. When you're ready, open the book and examine the pages. What do you see? Turn each page and read about yourself, or see the various images of yourself in a past life. Make a mental note about what you see so you can bring it back with you.
13.  When you have concluded your visit, make sure you thank your guides and or God(s) for their help.
14.   Imagine yourself approaching your sanctuary entry way, sitting on a pedestal by the door is a small object. Pick it up and examine it. Make note of what it is, place it in your pocket and then leave.
15.   Pass through the glass doors and heading back down to your meditative space. Imagine your soul walking through the door to your room, and seeing your physical body right where you left it. As your soul steps back inside your physical body, all the visions sensations and answers you received merge with your physical brain and are automatically stored into your conscious mind.
16.  Take in a deep breath, begin to feel your body, become more and more aware of your surroundings, have a nice long and hard stretch and then open your eyes.
 
Record Your Experience
The last thing you should do before you get up from your meditative spot is to record this event either on tape or in a journal. It's important to do it right away while the images, feelings and sounds are still clear in your mind. Record as much detail as you remember. Don't try to decipher images or figure out significant connections until you're done. Make note of what you saw, then go back and think about why it was there for you.
 
When you've recorded the detail, think about how this lifetime you discovered affects this current embodiment. Re-read what you wrote and you'll find a lot of hidden meanings that you didn't notice when you were writing or when you were in your sanctuary. Try to include names, places, cloths, feelings (that's important), what you feel the purpose of that lifetime is in this embodiment. All these things you should be able to get from reading your book.
 
The last thing you want to record is the description of the object by the door. This was your gift to you for your visit. And will tell you something about your experience in the sanctuary for this particular journey. It's a nice way to give yourself a message each time you enter the structure. So you might want to d this every time you leave.
 
Good luck, and don't worry if you can't accomplish this the first time. Don't be hard on yourself. Just keep practicing
Found on paganpath.com

I wanted to add that I have read and practiced thousands of guided meditations and while I have not attempted this one personally, I do think it is a well-written and thought out meditation. I would love to hear from anyone who tries it. As always, you can of course write to me personally if you do not feel comfortable adding it publicly.
I love hearing from all!
Bright Blessings,
Kat

Friday, January 4, 2013

Cleaning for Asthma Sufferers

Safe Cleaning for Asthma Sufferers

Cleaning with non-toxic cleaners is a great way to both clean your home and manage asthma. Here are some suggestions for cleaning and decreasing asthma triggers. These recipes are easy, inexpensive, and non-polluting.

Mold & Mildew Cleaner
 Lemon juice and salt or white vinegar and salt mixed into a paste and then scrub the mold infected areas. Dry areas when finished.
Tips:
-When showering or bathing, turn on the bathroom fan and allow it to run for 15 minutes or longer. If the bathroom does not have a fan, open a window for 15 minutes or longer.
-Replace or wash moldy shower curtains.
-Fix leaky plumbing and remove unwanted sources of water.

Window & Mirror Cleaner
Vinegar, water, liquid laundry detergent. Use organic detergent if possible.
Pour ¼ cup of vinegar into a 16 ounce spray bottle and fill to the top with water. To prevent streaking, add 3-4 drops of detergent into the spray bottle. Mix well, spray on the surface, and scrub with a cloth diaper, lint free rag, or sheet of newspaper.

Pest Control
1 quart of water
1 crushed garlic clove
1 minced onion
1 tblsp ground cayenne pepper
1 tblsp liquid laundry detergent
Mix the water and food ingredients. Let it stand for 1 hour, strain, and add the liquid soap. Pour the mixture into spray bottle and spray it around house for pest control.

Tips:
-Avoid saving boxes, paper bags, or newspapers in piles.
-Do not leave open food or dirty dishes lying around your home.
-Keep counters clean of crumbs and spills
-Keep garbage containers closed
-Rinse recyclables before putting them in a bin
-Avoid using pesticides. Use traps or baits instead.

Oven Cleaner
Baking soda
Water
Scouring pad
Mix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply paste to interior oven surfaces and let stand for at least 30-45 minutes. Use a scouring pad to scrub soiled areas and use a harder object such as a bread knife, for larger food deposits.
Do not use this cleaner on self-cleaning ovens.


Stain Remover
Borax
Water
Mix ¼ cup of borax with 2 cups of water. Use a sponge or cloth to dab the solution on the stain. Let it dry. Use another clean cloth moistened with water to scrub the stained area.


Tub, Toilet, & Sink Cleaner
Baking Soda
Liquid Castile Soap
Sprinkle baking soda onto porcelain surfaces. Squeeze a couple of drops of soap onto the surfaces. Scrub with a damp rag. Rinse well to avoid leaving a hazy film.


Drain Cleaner
Baking Soda
Vinegar
Boiling Water
Pour ¼ cup of baking soda down the drain first, followed by ½ cup of vinegar. Let the drain bubble for 3-5 minutes. Finally pour about a quart of boiling water down the drain. Repeat the process if the drain is still clogged.
A drain snake or a plunger can be used as a non-chemical method to unclog the drain.

Dusting & Polishing
Olive Oil or Almond Oil
Use a soft fabric with a few drops of oil for polishing surfaces.

Tips
-Organize toys and clothes in clean plastic trash bags or bins
-Wash stuffed animals in hot water and dry them on a high heat setting. Sealing toys in a plastic bag and placing them in the freezer overnight or for at least 5 hours also kills dust mites.
-Wash all bedding in hot water and dry on a high heat setting every few weeks.
-Vacuum and dust with a damp cloth at least once a week, preferably with a heap vacuum.
-Take off shoes before entering the house to cut down on contaminants that can be spread through the house.

Fresh Air
Throw out harsh chemical cleaners and scented household cleaners.
Use mild, unscented detergents for clothes and unscented fabric softeners.
Stop using air fresheners and deodorizers.
Do not smoke cigarettes in the home.

That completes this post, I hope you can incorporate some or all of these tips into keep your home clean and healthy for yourself and your family.  Please know that these cleaning tips and recipes are for everyone, not just asthma sufferers.
Bright Blessings,
Kat
TheOrganicBrew.com

My Grandmother


At 1st this post was going to be about my new Witches Ring and how the Universe led it to me. However, it has quickly turned into a post about something more, my Grandmother. A strong, self reliant, difficult and at times hard to understand woman. As a woman I understand that a woman’s heart is vast, with tons of little alcoves where past hurts are tucked to be pulled out when we are alone and can cry unseen. Perhaps her hardness was because of one of those alcoves of hurts. However, the Grandmother from my youth took care of me; I slept over her house and watched Dallas with her. We went to the movies and she would cover my eyes if something inappropriate was on the screen. She took me all over New England from Newport to the Warwick mall on the weekends. She bought me my 1st ten speed bike when I was 10. And at the tender age of 17 when I was living in Daytona without my Mother and was homesick, she paid for my Uncle to come to Florida to bring me home.
My Grandmother passed away a few months ago and I am ashamed to say we were not close in later years. My Grandmothers relationship with my Mother has always been a strained one and I am my Mother’s daughter. When my Grandmother would say things that would hurt my Mother, these hurts became my own. When she lived her later years ignoring invites to my home preferring to spend them with her son and his family, those hurts festered. However, I will say that we never argued my Grandmother and I, no harsh words were said between us and for this I am thankful.
This post was going to start out with reminding my readers about my Witches Ring that was lost to me a few years ago, about 6 years to be exact. In my recent blog post “How to Enchant your Witches Ring” I talked about loosing my Witches Ring. It was a silver and amethyst ring with an old world style to it. It was beautiful.  One day it disappeared and I searched everywhere for it. It was not to be returned to me.
Since then I have been looking to replace that ring, A Witch needs a special ring for many things. It is empowered with her magick, it brings her power and protection.
I have not found another ring that I like enough for it to be my Witches Ring. I have some requirements of this ring, it must be amethyst and it must be sterling silver. And of course I have to love it. It has to evoke a feeling inside of me.
About a month ago my Mother said she was going to send me some of her old jewelry, stuff she doesn’t wear anymore. The box came in the mail with some lovely clothes and a bag of jewelry. Inside this bag was a set of rings in sterling silver, a thin silver band woven around with swirls and a silver ring with a deep amethyst stone in it with two tiny quartz crystals on each side. I loved it and put the set on to find that it fit perfectly! My Mother has small hands and her rings are usually two small for me.  I called my Mother right away to ask about this set and she told me it was my Grandmothers. I can’t tell you how something in me settled knowing that this ring was once worn by my Grandmother. A woman who let nothing and no one stand in her way. How lucky could I be that I finally found my sterling silver and amethyst ring and to know that my Grandmother once wore this piece herself, well there is no better Witches Ring for me. I like to think that my Grandfather gave her this ring. He passed many years ago so we can’t ask him however I feel in my heart that is was from him. My Grandfather was a sweet, kind, caring man who never spoke to me in harshness and used to sit me on his lap and sing me songs like “A tiskat a Tasket”.
So today I light my Ancestor candle for my Grandparents and thank them for sending me that ring. I can only hope that my Grandmother still watches me from above like she did when I was a little girl.
I love you Grandma, thank you.